Track roller lifter



Dec. 8, 1964 B. J- COUNCILMAN TRACK-ROLLER LIFTER Filed April 19, 1962 IHIIIIIIIII ll United States Patent 3,160,393 TRACK ROLLER LIFTER Berton J. Councilman, Box 576, Ogden, Iowa Filed Apr. 19, 1962, S92. N0. 1ss,746 1 Claim. (Cl. 254-93) This invention relates to improvements in lifting devices, and more particularly to, a device for lifting heavy track rollers upwards, into place on a machine frame.

An object of the present invention is to provide a track-roller lifter that is hydraulically operated, utilizing multiple disc rollers, closing towards each other, in sliding and rotating engagement therewith the outer periphery of a heavy track-roller.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a track-roller lifter that will lift heavy track-rollers upwards in various stages, utilizing positive control throughout the stages of lifting.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a track-roller lifter, that will lower heavy trackrollers from their position, in a machine frame, when necessary.

For other objects and for a better understanding'of the invention, reference may be had to the following de-' tailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, comprising the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of one of the multiple disc rollers, shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4'is an end view of FIGURE 3;

FIGURES 5 and 6 show the device in operative use.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a trackroller lifter 10, made in accordance with the present invention, is shown to include an elongated dual railed track 12, having a plurality of equally spaced apart and parallel cross-bars 14, secured therebetween, and a plurality of downwardly-projecting legs 16, equally and parallelly spaced apart therebeneath. A plurality of cylindrical rollers 18, of varying thicknesses and grooved rollers 20. are freely and centrally received by a central and elongated shaft 22, which is secured at right angles to a bracket 24. Blocks 24 are spaced apart and are rectangular in configuration, and are in alignment therewith each other. A cotter key 23 is received therethrough the end of each shaft 22, and retains the rollers 18 and 20 respectively. An opening26, of rectangular configuration, therethrough the bracket '24, freely and slidably receive a stabilizer bar 28 of rectangular configuration, and a set screw 30 received therethrough the end bracket 24, secures the stabilizer bar 23 therewithin the end bracket 24. A circular opening 32, above opening 26, therethrough the blocks 24,'freely and slidably receive an elongated control shaft 34, which is secured there- I within block 24 by set screws 36. A gusset 38 is fixedly secured thereto block 24 and shaft 22, providing rigidity handle 62, having a grip 64, which fits into the operators hand. A track-roller 66, having outer flanges 68, is lifted thereupon the rollers 20, and are fitted therewithin the C-frame 70. j p p In operation, the operator grasps the handle 62 by the grip 64 on the pump 60, and raises it up and down, creating hydraulic pressure against the piston 66, therewithin the hydraulic cylinder 40. The piston is urged against the spring 50 toward the end wall 52 of the cylinder 40, and the shaft 32 secured thereto the piston 46 by nut 48, pulls the end block 24 toward the other end block 24, and the sliding operation is stabilized by the bar 28, sliding therewithin the opening 26 therethrough the block 24. The rollers 18 and 20 thereupon the shaft 22 secured to the end block 24, are thus urged towards the other end block 24. The rollers 20, being in camrning engagement therewith the flange 68 of track-rollers 66, thus, cam the roller 66 upward to the desired position necessary for securing the roller 66 therewithin the 0- frame 70.

It will be recognized that the height of the roller 66 may be raised, and is positively controlled by the operation of the hydraulic pump 60, and that the return means for rollers 29 and 18 is provided for by the coil spring 50 therewithin which urges piston 46 away from end wall 52 of cylinder 49, thus, restoring the end block 24' to its normal position, after the hydraulic pressure is released therewithin the cylinder 40.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall and to lower a vehicle having flanged wheels, comprising,

in combination, a longitudinal bar, a pair of brackets,

thereto the shaft 22, and a hydraulic cylinder 40 is secured thereto the other end of shaft 34 by bracket 42, which is secured thereto cylinder 40 and block 24 by fasteners 44, and the cylinder 41 freely and slidably receives a circular piston 46 therewithin, which is secured thereto the end of shaft 34 by fastening member 48. A coiled returned spring 50 received therewithin cylinder 40, is secured thereto the piston 46 and end wall 52, therewithin cylinder 40. A hollow threaded pipe 54 projecting at right angles therefrom cylinder 40, threadingly receives a flexible hydraulic hose 56, which is secured thereto the projecting pipe 58 ,of hydraulic pump 60. Hydraulic pump 60 is provided with a manually-operated one stationary bracket and one slidablymovable bracket, said stationary bracket being secured to one end of said bar, the other bracket being slidably mounted upon said bar to slide toward and away from the stationary bracket, 1

a pair of parallel roller supports, one of said supports being secured to the stationary bracket and the other to the slidably movable bracket, grooved rollers mounted on i said supports, the flanges of the wheels being received on said grooved rollers for vertical lifting and lowering when the rollers are moved towards each other or away from each other, hydraulic means for lifting or lowering said vehicle by means of the sliding action of said movable bracket, said means including a hydraulic cylinder secured to the movable bracket, a shaft secured to said stationary bracket and extending into said cylinder, a piston mounted fixedly on said shaft, said piston being slidably mounted inside said cylinder, and means communicating with said cylinder to introduce and exhaust fluid under pressure in said cylinder to slide said cylinder in relation to said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,275,716 

